Process for producing articles by electrodeposition.



UNITED STATES lFRANK IORNS GIBBS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

`PBOUllSS FOR PRODUCING ARTICLES BY ELECTRODEPOSITION.

Specioation of Letters Patent.

PATENT OFFICE.

Patented Feb. e1., 191.1.

Application filed September :23, 1909. Serial No. 519,243.

To all whom zt may' concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK IouNs Giens, a subject of His Majesjty the-King of Great Britain a'hd Ireland, residing at 140 Hurst.

street, Birmingham, England, manufacturer, 'have invented new and useful Improvement-s in Processes lfor Producing Articles by Electrode osition, of which the .following is a speci cat-ion. A 1

This invent-ion has referei'ce to improvements in processes for the production of all those metallic articles and combined metallic and non-metallic articles which can be prol duced by electro-deposition on to a prepared surface, said articles being entirely metallic, or combined 4metallic and no11ineta-ll1c, as

. hereinafter described. Ileretoore, when depositing metal on to the surface of a nonmetallic article such asthe surfaceci potteryware, or glass, or bricks, 'on-slabs, such surface must first be coated with plnmbago or with some metallic paint or other metallic preparation which Will receive the deposit and such coating will he more or less absol-hedv into and form part of the metallic electrodeposit thereon, and therefore it follows that when the deposit has been removed from the non-metallic article which has served as the model, the surface of the same must be reeoated'Wit-h the pluinbago or mctallic paint or special lpreparation before it can be used again for another depositi..

My invention ie11ables"the glass or potteryware or burnt clay model or article to have meta-l 4elect-1o-depo.sted on toits surface or surfaces and' removed therefrom over andA over again wlthout such surface having to" be re-prepared by the plater 1n any Way, and

moreover the surface of the deposit which was next tothe surface ofthemodel or article-Will, when the deposit is removed therefrom, be beautifull;T smooth and highlyv pol- Ii shed.

hereinafter referred to as the model). on to4 which the metall is to be alegro-deposited; is or are coated,` as by they votter with a glazed metallic luster, preferably a platinum metal in the saine Way that Well known f glazed luster poiteryware new coated or made. The copper or other metal is' new eleetro-deposited on to the glazed luster surface of the model to the required thiol:- ness and when this required thickness has been obtained the deposit can be removed from the model and it 'will be fennel that the deposit has not adhere-.d to the luster surface and therefore the deposit can be very readily removed and the surface of the deposit which was next to the model will, by having been in Contact with the glazed metallic luster surface, he incantim fully polished and free from all tarnish,A undy practically chemically clean. Thus the expense of polishing and the polishing .miv terials and the liquid cleaning and clean-- ing materials and the like is saved. This polished surface of the deposited nieta] ticle is also if desired ready for a thin coat of a noble meta-l 01' other metal or metal coloring or, being free from all dust and blemishes, can be 'lacquered in the ordinary `Way. When the glazed luster surface model portant 'that the glazed metallic luster sur. face has been properly and carefully put on themodel by the potteitso that there are no 'iin'holes yo'r breaks in the glazed luster sur ace.` y

My invention enables me to produce among other metal articles highly olished` metal in sheets and st-rips, andin t e form of perforated or other strips .commonly known as ornamental wire and used in the electro-plate trade,.si1ehv metal articles being ti Li loo entirely of one metal or two or more metals.

and this model is inserted-in the bath and properly connected up and the metal de-` posited on to the glazed luster surface to the desired thickness, and then when the model has'been removed from the hath and washed and dried the depositcan readily he'lifted off theA glazed metallic luster surfaceof the model by inserting a knife at. um edge or corner when it will readily peel or lift ofi',

-because as aforesaid the deposit docs not adhere to the said glazedl luster surface.

' This' sheet metal will now be found to have a.' splendid highly, polished surface which was next to the luster, and it is ready for use in the various arts inwhich polished sheet Imetal .is' required. ln' making said sheet metal I prefer to use a model which has two or more 'of its sides covered with the metallic luster-sofas to form a corresponding number of sheets of metal at the saine o'itime. A

.'.In the 'accompanying drawings'.7 Figure 1 illustrates the method of ioiiiiing two metallic sheets sin'iultaneously. Fig-2 illustrates the lniethod of forming six ii'i'etallie sheets siiniiltaneoiisly.l Fig. illustrates-a method of'forming eight metallic -sl'ieets simultaue' ously. Figs. 4, '5, and i' illustrate a method .-.of forming curved or cylindrical sheets ot' metal. Fig. 7 a'n-elevational' View of one section of' a mold ei'i'iployed for forming a te'ajpot in accordance with my invention. Fig. 8 is asectional view on the line .1f-a: of

' Fig. 7, the. two sections of the niold being` shown in operative position to one another.

' Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the mold illustratinof' the process of forming metal plates 'with anges"wl'iieh plates areprovided with inner polished surfaces. Fig. lOjis a viewsirnilar to Fig. 9 showing the means of formin'l iange plates having exterior or outei -fpo ish'ed surfaces. Fig. 1l is a View Sin'iilar platesr-f ormed as indioed 4in Fig. 11.

lilliistrates the method of forming simnll' to Fig.d 9 Showingthe mold in one piece' in'v stead'ofj-n two pieces. Figa-12 represents the manner of jonino. together the two Fig.

tatueously two 4flange plates, one of wliielris provided with an inner polished surfaceand the othegil of Which'is provided with arioutcr polished surface. l

On thf aecompanyingjdrawings'Fi '1 is a 4projected View of a slab" o rblock' 'orming the'inodel for producing .siin'ultax'ieonsl two sheets @if metal, this block ormotel is marked A and it Will be seen that. it. is of rectangular form somewhat larger than the' required sheets: Its back and front surfaces (of which only the front surface canbe seen) are )artly coated at 1 (as shown by cross 'sha ing) 'withthe gla'zed'metallic luster, and from this e'urfacel to the correspending surface on the other-side of the model there are leads 2 which act as leads for the current, so that the'metal-v will be yi'leposited on to said surfaces aswell as on to the strips or leads 2 around the edgesof the model. from one sheet tothe other and these leads can he cut away when 'the deposit 1S finished and the sheets are to be removed.

rlhe leads 2 assist in securingthe lsheets 'to the luster surface of the model While the outer-surfaces ofthe Sheets are polished' sov if desired; the copper rod 3 eonnecti-:dto-V the luster ware projecting-part 4. of the model is for thei1: urpo se"of connecting 'the euri-ent. Then the' sheets are removed from the model the surfaces which' were in contact with the metallicl luster sur-face Will beA lniautifully smooth and 'polished as`afoiesaid.

will have a similar form.. VVhen'itis required for the deposited metal tti-be perlv forated then this can be done in two Ways', either hy the glazed metallic luster being puton to the surface of the modelby 'the' potter in the desired'patt'ern so that the ()i .if tlie'modcl has an embossed or recessed luster sur-face then thesheet metal.

metal when deposited on to the glazed 1netal lic luster surface will' have the Vrequired pern foi-ated or other. pattern, or the whole ofthe surface can be coated with the metallic luster. and the parts correspondingwith the perforations in the finished in'etal. can be stopped oil" on the-luster surf-ace so that the metal will be deposited only on to theexposed surface and in the required perforated or other pattern.

lt will be understood that the, deposited metal can he -iiiade of any desired thickness and that when very, thin it. takes the form of metal foil or tinsel, or tliesaid ,thin depos-v ited sheet niet-al when removed from the model. which has -arecessed or 'raised surface eau-be .used as embossed i'i'i'etallic wall paper.

Also one or more ii'ietals can he depositedV For instance assuming' that a metal sheetl 1s required which consists one on .the other.

of a polished silver face strengthened by a copper. back, then the silver'is first deposited upon the glazed luster surface model and- -when the desired thieki'iess has hilera-obtained then this is strengthened by copper being deposited 'on-it which niay if desired have .silver deposited'on'the eopperainl polished in the usual Way.` Or other combinations-of these metals or other, metals may bearrangedj as Will readily loe lunderstood."

.Moreoiver the metal or metals which is or are" ,A

' deposited oo to the glazed luster ware eurne e the form ofsheetmetal or tubes. In

of many ydeposited on to the metal u'hirll was tiret l'aeeinay he `so deposited as 4to forni an ornamental eurtaee like marquetry or Dain- 'aelteen work will readily he understood.`

lt will be evident that the luster Ware modele for the production of the sheet metal in the manner above deeeril'ied may be made other'shapee lthan that shown by Fig, l Within the'eeope olfu this invention; some of these lue-ter ware models are by way or' examples illustrated in Figa 2, i@ 4. 5 and. The hieter were block shown in Fig. 2 has six flat. luster ware sides 5, v(only three of Whieh can be Seen) so to produce six sheets simultaneously and theee luster ware parte are connected together by glazed luster leads El to convey the current to all of them,

The model shown in Fig. 3 ist made like a `hollow rectangular prism open at both ends so thatninthis ease eight sheets will be de posited simultaneously four on the four out ei le Ltaees tl of the prism and four on the in Side faces l "of the saine, and the luster ware surfaeeson the inside and outside are conheated together by luster 'ware leads 2 as above' described. .Or the luster ware model for forming the sheet'lmetal may be of het low cylindrical formas inFigS. 4l 5 and (l (or .may be' a 'Solid eyinder) withthe luster Ware surface on the outside'between the` lines 8, 9 and also il desired 4a luster Ware surface extending yon the insideA (or only 'ou the inside or only on the outside) so 'that when thet-metalfis deposited on the' lust r ware lbtiirtace to the required thiol;-

the` deposlt een be removed either in the latter oase when vthe deposited tube an exterior tube it Will be polished on thel ineide through having been in Contact with the glazed luster .ware veurgtaoe, and when 1to1-med hy depositing; on the interior ot the model then it will through the same eauee` he poliehe'd on the outeide. 'lo facilitate. the removal ot the deposit on the exterior ol' the luster ware eurtaee as aforesaid, the lueterl were surface may he arranged to he not oontinued allai-ouml the model but to tloish at the two liiarallel linee lhll near one another and eonneetedby lle-.ida 2 eo that the deposit; will liniah at theee lines l0 11,. vand yean readily he 'pulled ott the model when the leads 2 have been slit through. Moreover to facilitate the removal ofthe model from the deposit `said model may, as will readily he ondere-tooth he made in tWo or more parte, tor instance as Shown by Fig. (l whiehehows a eylindrleal model made in halves 38, 39

'whieh halves are each provided with ilangee 4t) so arranged thatavhen the two halves are placed together and the flanges are` in engagement, a complete hollow cylinder it; formed while the halves can he readily die engaged to allow of the removal of the in-, 85 'terior deposit after the exterior deposit has been removed 'from the exterior ot the halves. n l

Itthe metal which is deposited on to the glazed metallic luster to have an embossed polished surface either continuous orfperforated then` the glazed surface ot the model ie simultaneously v:sunk

or raised so that the metal deposited thereon will have a similar torio and this applies equally well to 'the matting of Small articles euch for instance as ornamental strip metal known as Wire, or llinger plates, cabinet `handle platee., eotlin handle platee, panels for bedsteade and for other proposes and many other like articles which at the present time are made of sheet metal stainpetlm thee. Forrenakmg; ornamental strip metal whether perforated or .nog` lehnilar luster ware models have to be used the luster surfao-es eorrepondin with the metal strips to be produced as wil readily be understood.

' In order to produce an electro-deleosited metal artielo'sueh for instance as a teapot,

or a vaee or other hollowyeseel or artirle which 1st` 'required to be hollow and polished on the outside, with or Without a raised or sunk. vpattern thereon7 `the glass or'pottery- Wareor other said glazed luster 'Surface model is made in one vor more parte something like a core box with its inner surface or surfaces coated or partly coated with the glazed metallic:A luster. Such a` model is Shown tor instance in Figa? and 8 of which surface is 4required 70 Fig. 7 ie al1-ont part. sectional elevation ot' 100 a eet ot luster Waren'iolds for forming a teapot and Fig. 8 a seetional plan of the same taken on line X X of Fig. 7. This partieularniodel consists of the two halves l5, C`

(eael1"o't Whieh @o1-responds internally with 105 one hallI ot the teapot) and the top ring l) 'whloh forms the seating. for the hd? and the bottoni uireular blot-k `lil whieh tortue the. i

usual depression ll ill the bottoni oi the te:

aS shown in Fie. 7. yThe model ie coated The ring' part l) and the bloolt E tit 110 Yin `the top and bottom of the halt molds l, C

and body' and handle and spout otlte tea- 115 pot. where the. metal is to he` deposited. any suilableleads for the Wires tor the current, being arranged as' `Will readily-be understood.` The ring part D is also luster glazed at "lt 'Corresponding with the seating for the 120 lid.l The parte B, C, l) and E of the molds yare fixed `together by any suitahlemeans,

'Iheanode supply andleolulirm will pass through suitable openmge such as the opening 17 in the spout andthe openingb 18 inthe 125 ring l). y The molde can itt desired and are by preference made hallowed on the outside eo ae to heliight for handling arid the eA '.terior surface 19 is by preference covered mold that thickness is not increased.

In 'order to quicken the production a certain thickness of metal may be deposited on the internal luster surfaces of parts of the mold before they are placed. together for the fullweight ofthe metal to be de Kposited thereon. When the full weightlhas been deposited on the interior of the cornplete mold it is opened and the inclosed deposit Which has not adhered to the metallicv luster snrfaceof the molds is free to be removed therefrom. Its exterior surface will be beautifully polished by contact with the smooth glazed metallic luster surface of the mold,` f l When the parts of the mold have been Washed and cleaned they are ready for the formation of lar Way.

Both the handle and spout or the teapot formed vas above described will be `hollovt7 but when the former is required to be solid then it can be filled in. with anysuitable metal or material from the interior of the pot. Orif preferred the bodyx of the pot and the spout can be deposited together Without the handle, but with sockets or parts to receive the handle, and then a solid handle or other suitable handle can be fixed to the body by any. suitable means. It will be understood from the above description that many other metal articles can he proanother teapot-iny a simiduced in the -man'ii'er'fabove describedjby being' deposited on the glazed metallic luster interior ot' mold made i'ntwo or more parts for the removal of' the internal deposit which latter will have a beautifully polished sur' faceas aforesaid., It will be` understood that the molds require inl some cases to have at;- tachments or extended portions embodied in the production ot thc-molds for thccurrent connections and'lor fixing the moldsl to- I gcther by any suitable means.V

lVhen the `deposited metal'tea-pot or other vessel. is required to-have a bright polished interiolslu'faee this is done by usinga,

model which has the external shape of the v required vessel andan external glazed metallic luster surface' on tojwhichlthe metal is deposited to form` the required vessel.

The model is, as Willi'readily be understood,

' madein the necessary'sections to enable it to be readily removed from the deposit.

In a similar manner I mak'e metal molds which can be used for any purpose where a soft plastic material requires' to be molded into fshape. In making these molds I use a metallic luster Ware article having the shape'of the required articlewhich is to be made from the molds and then on to the metallic lustersurface on this article, I de 'posit copper or other metal to form the mold, the said deposited metal being divided up into parts on' its surface if' necessary so that it will leave the metallic luster Ware part on which it is deposited, and these parts of t-he metal mold thus madecan be taken apart and when placed together will :form a' complete mold the interior surface of which will be bright and polished and an exact co'py of the article from which the mold Was made. When the said metal` molds are required to be made With flanges or side edges to facilitate-opening and closing, then this is done by making the glazed luster ware molds With-ipmjecting` luster Ware flanges on to which the metal Will bedepositedW to form flangeson the deposited metal mold. For instance in the pair of glazed luster Ware rmolds F, G indicated in cross sectional plan by Fig) each of these half molds F, G is formed with projecting side flanges 20 which are coated with tends loniffo the faces 2C where thev halfl molds meet so that the portions of the deposits 2.4, 25 which are deposited thereon. will form the flanges 20 of the internal deposits 24, 25. Or as shown; inv sectional plan by Fig. 1l the luster Ware mold for forming the two deposited metal half molds 22, Q3 lmay -be made as one mold J on the two sides or halves of which the met-al half molds 22, 23 are deposited, this glazed luster Ware mold J being made with the pro jee-ting- 4side flanges 2T, .2S which are made .with the glazed'metallic luster Ware surfaces of the proper width to form the side flanges 20 'on-,the metal half molds 22, 23 so `that. the tWo metal half molds 22, 23 Will fit together and form' a col'nplete .mold as 'in .F.ig. l2. The flanges 20 may be shaped in anyA desired form such as one flange having a projection 2) to fit intoa `eorresponding depression 30 inl the otherflange ass-shown, so as to keep the deposited metal half molds 22, 23 in their proper positions relatively to one another when they are titled together ma in Fig. 12.

If the .half mold, snr-h for instance the hull" mold (l in Fig.' t). is inode perfeotly truc-` 6 :md equal sided. two ot' the deposits taken therefrom van be placed with their flanges Q faro to thee so .ls togetlwr to forinth desired metal mold or other hol-low article. Moieovor I muy silnnltnnel'vusly madre two 10 deposited metal articles from one glazed inotnllio luster rml-e mold one. of the depoe 'ith' living :in internal deposit with nlirlglll; external Hnrfawe. :1nd the otherl deponit la@ ing an external depoeit with n bright internal surfnet. 'lhis-rl'ill be clenrhy nn ex- :nninntion of Fig. 13 `which is n sectional pln ,of n xl-.mod metallic: luster ware mold li withl two deposits lll. 3i?, thererm.` This,I yglazed hielt-r wore mold K han; one hollow or ZID/concave eide 33 on to which n de neitV 3l has been londe. und another ronnde or roniox side -l-l on lo which another de ooit El?) han; been nnnle. Tlmdeposit 31 wil have n lli-ight polished external surface, und the de unit 34 will have a bright polished internn surface. t willllieseen tlmtzrveryinrgo nlnnliei` of articles of manyornnmentnl jmd other shapes und sizes can lhe formed to gather olf the namcmold which is` formed with glazed luster ware sni'facod 'porta to Y (forrespond` with the vnrions deposits which nre to lioprodnood thereonV or therein.

' I There is no glazed metallic luster on the pe riphery 36 of the mold K `vxe'eit the .short lmndn nt inlervale forming lvm.

inivrnsd deposit Hi lo the vxterrml de mail its hvrutoforo Stated tho depoeit c nos not adhere 'tothe ,Q 'lnzod p'mtnllic .luster nun-linee lint newrlljl'olos the` sndd :posit in rendily 40 fixed l'l'lereto 'if doeii-ed ln ihn ehnpe olf the modul vheling nol :arranged llintwhen the model in required lo rvnnlin no n pornnnienl; pant; nl the tlniednd nrl'ulo tho doponit will then :Lo ondn'nl'o lliv rnudol that, 4'5 rnnnot lio removed even l lnolnn without tiret cutting the deposit. The pottory nutro model only for insltnnce have the glnzvd motnll'nhistm- Hnrfnvo innidv` and ont. including;

its algas-1 und bo absolutely inoloriod and hidden inide the'nntnl depoeit, whirll thun l -will sal-rm to strengthen (he inolossodfpottory nro model. Y l u Tt will liv-Senn llink my invention is pnr- ,tionlnrljy onlinr-nhl@ to mnkingthon'e :notullo. nrliclon. and combined mctxtllio land nonlnetnlliv nrtivle, in whiolr'tli lnotnl pxn't is deposited on tothe model an d thrniodol or portions off the somo is or lai-required lo he broken nwnyor otherwise'remowd from tho endl-punit. nfs tho footing of tho snvfnro or .enri'noes of the model with tln- :mid motnllio instor glnze wary cheaply done hy, the potter:

in the preparation of the inodrl und monitore smid is prnc'tiof lly ovm-hinting :is with the .exception of winning; zint;

Ihe of suflicie-nt s* from the the lutter' fue@ does noty llore lo ll pimpin. 'i way for the l'nrionn lllnponl un it..

It in to be nmlorntoorll thrill' tho plnliifnlnl. or other metal' whioh lainplnflndl l potter in foriniinzllnt. imiter enrllnoe non to etmnnth or tnnnnity linwww the current, and owing; to the Tlinl'llt lillnll l. .r )hxtinnm or other naomi. in. the lnnlnr nninlioen. rst lnnned und rnn into the ginie i onnnols lin prenoms@ n snlticient. metallic nnrilfnrze to reoeiifo the i posit und convey tho onrronllv find thnlnnl .rf snrfnwo is @o held and promotori by the ,girano that ns aforesaid `it is prnnlionlllv indmolinow tibio hy the liqnid olnltonln nl. llano i'nrllzmn lnlths. f

When it indenirod lor tho-de flawed metallic inviter wor model to lione n pntlolrrn or r, pnttorn or device onf lio glnnnd lnnter 'Ware mind lilnstinp: als to nlllvon of tho deposit and thin nnlteon on pofsit. van then be lnishetlnp or defined by engraving .or ohnsing.

1It will be understood from the foregoing.' description of my invention kloot. mv sold invention is applicable to the ninnnfnolrnre by electrodlelmition of nn i can be produced by electr@ eponillnn on the glazed metallic lnstorfwlnn nnrlfnon nl n l niln sible model, either ns nn entorno] dopolnl. an :an internal domsit ne n' i tioles for inettnio on nrnnrn fonder moldings, eornloo pill ornamental npindlon www. limlsatend nion ln'n. phonon, esliioldn.. .l dlnh morera. lln nrtinlnfa n'hloh cnn llo pro dow-'millon into or nilo :l idiom sanrflwo or mold.

ll'ln-n' the. glnmed iunior 'n'nrr rnodol in to romain :is :1 pcm/iony ot' the linlnhod nrliolo, nnoh for instnnro non mno nnid nlytirle may lnnf'dportions ol the mid grlznzfcd nlotnllln lmator wnrv surface stoppml ntl no' tlinl; when the nutnl is dvpooitmll on to this. onponed portions; ofthe hinter n'nrn Sorlin-o n nnitnlalo lnotnllio design will on formed on tho lnntor ground., Alm the nrtirln indy ln, linrtlwr inminente-l by the nin-llamo of the motnllin ports whiulrl lnwr linen deponitod nl; nlnro `.'-nid lining stoppod oil" amd niinllwonwtnl de nositod on to thv eilzmnod portions nl' the hinter were nnrfzn'ze. iv lirli nre tho interntinon between the lli'rnt dopnmit. *hnl the wordt.. will bo o. rn'otl'lio nnrllnnn fornnt metallo.

The model or mold und l'ln's nrtlrlo prn dnomlby tlm dnplinilinn nro not olnlrnod lnn'oin but .om mudo tlm: nutrient. rnnlzler olf' il? on die 'tho midline@ tho de moro oleo, r'lyv nrtiolos nrltnioll lll lll

lllll 

